Wire-stretcher.



No..831,82'7. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906. R. BURNHAM. WIRE STRETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15.1906.

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WlRE-STRETCHER.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25 1 906.

Application filed March 15,1906. Serial No. 306,266-

1'0 ML w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROLLIN BURNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Storm Lake, in the county of Buena Vista and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful l/Vire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers, and has for its object to provide a strong, durable, and efficient stretcher by means of which the adjacent ends of a broken strand of wire may be supported in convenient po sition while intertwisting or otherwise uniting the same.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a stretcher in which the wire-gripping arms are spaced from the rack-bar and movable longitudinally of the same with a stepby-step movement to effect the stretching of the wire.

A further object is to provide a stretcher capable of being used either as a mid-wire take-up or for stretching and tightening strand-wires preparatory to nailing or otherwise rigidly securing the same to a post or other suitable support.

A still further object of the invention is to simplify and improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility and durability as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side *elevation of a portion of a wire fence, showing the improved stretcher in position and used as a mid-wire take-up. Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating member detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The device consists of a rack-bar 5, having its opposite longitudinal edges formed with a series of spaced recesses defining ratchetteeth, as shown. Extending laterally from one end of the rack-bar is a stationary wiregrip ping arm 6, and slidably mounted on said rack-bar is a movable arm 7, similar in construction to the arm 6. The intermediate portions of the grip ping-arms are curved laterally, as indicated. at S, and pivotally supported in eyes 9, secured to the free ends of said arms, are wire-gripping devices,preferably in the form of clamps 10'and 10, of any approved construction. Embracing the sides of the rack-bar 5 is the bifurcated end of an operating-lever 11, to which are pivoted at 12 suitable pawls 13, adapted to engage the teeth or notches in the rack-bar. The operating-lever is connected to the movable arm 7 by means of links 14, slidably mounted on the bar 5, and connected to the links and lever, respectively,as by lugs 16, is a pawl-actuating member 17. The pawl-actuating member 17 is free to oscillate on the bar 5 and is provided with inclined or beveled faces 18, adapted to alternately bear against the tail ends 19 of the pawls 13 for moving the active faces of said pawls into engagement with the teeth on the rack-bar. The side walls of the actuating member 17 are preferably offset, as indicated at 20, to accommodate the bifurcated end of the handoperated lever, said member being adjustable longitudinally of the bar with a step-bystep movement as the o erating-lever is reciprocated. The movab e member 7 is also provided with an auxiliary wire-clamping device 21 ,whereby two or more strand-wires may be conveniently stretched or tightened at one operation of the machine.

WVhen the device is usedas a mid-wire take-up, one end of the broken wire is secured to the clamping member 10. and the opposite end of the wire secured to the member 10. The lever 11 is then moved back and forth, which causes the movable member 7 to be adjusted longitudinally of the rackbar with a step-by-step movement, thus drawing the broken ends of the strand-wires together and retaining them in convenient position to be intertwisted or otherwise united. By having the free ends of the arms 6 and 7 spaced laterally from the bar 5 the ends of the severed wire are supported above the operating-lever and its associated operating mechanism, so that the operator may conveniently fasten the broken strands. When the device is used for stretching or tightening the longitudinal wires in a line of fencing, the stationary arm 6 is placed in position on one of the fence -posts with its intermediate curved portion 8 embracing said post and the end of the wire to be stretched fastened in the clamping member The lever 11 is then operated to move the member 7 longitudinally of the bar 5 to effect the stretching operation. If the wire is not sufliciently stretched after the movable member reaches the limit of its longitudinal movement, the free or slack end of the wire is fastened to the member 10 and the movable arm 7 moved longitudinally of the bar 5 to its forward or initial position, the lever being subsequently operated in the manner before described to thereby exert additional tension on the wire to be stretched. One end of the bar 5 may be providedwith a suitable ring or eye 22 to assist in securing the stretcher in position on the fence-post and also to form a means for suspending the stretcher from a nail or other suitable support when the stretcher is not in use.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple and efficient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

a tubular actuating member having its side Walls offset for the reception of the lever, said actuating member being provided with provided with wire-gripping devices, an operatin -lever having one end thereof bifurcated or the reception of the adjacent end of the rack-bar and provided with laterally-extending lugs, a pair of pawls pivotally mounted on the operating-lever and adapted to alternately engage the teeth on the rack-bar, a tubular actuating member slidably mounted on the rack-bar and provided with oppositely-inclined faces adapted to alternately move the pawls into engagement with the teeth on said rack-bar, the side walls of the actuating member being oflset and pivotally mounted on the lateral lugs, and links pivotally mounted on said lugs and bearing against the offset portion of the actuating member and pivotally connected to the movable arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROLLIN BURNHAM.

Witnesses:

E. D. HOXSEY, B. L. JANSEN. 

